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Caffeine, a central nervous stimulant, has been part of many cultures for centuries. But the array of caffeine-containing products has expanded in recent years to include food products, energy drinks, and supplements, raising concerns about their safety and about whether new products target populations not normally associated with high caffeine consumption – like children and adolescents – and whether caffeine poses a greater health risk to those populations.

At the request of the FDA, the IOM held a workshop August 5-6, 2013, to review the available science on safe levels of caffeine consumption in foods, beverages, and dietary supplements and to identify data gaps. A new workshop summary, titled Caffeine in Food and Dietary Supplements: Examining Safety,” summarizes the workshop presentations and discussions.